Clothes-rack.



- UNIT-ED STATESv PATENT OEEICE.`

JOHN HERBERT oLoueH, or coeur, PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNoa OE ONE- HALE To iv.` Au. nAvis, on EATON, vINDIANA.

`oLOri-leslRAo K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,987, dated October 3, 1899. Application tied Ianuary 2'7, 1899. Serial No. 703.614. (No model.)

To all whom it uta/7J concern: Be it known that LJOHN HERBERT Cnoueu, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corry, inl the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and nsel f ul Clothes-Rack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clothes-racks of that class embodying a plurality of pivoted 1o and foldable clothes-hanger arms, and has for its object to provide each arm with a vertical adjustment and an automatic locking engagement with its support, whereby one or more of the hanger-arms may be used independently of the others.

Further objects embrace a ,new and novel manner of folding and holding the` hangerarms when not in use and the manner of mounting the entire-device upon the wall of zo a room or other support. l Y

With these ends in view the invention con sists in the combinationand arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawings, and z5 particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the device, showing the hanger-arms unfolded and in position for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the hanger-arms folded when not in use. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the hinge connections for the hanger-arms.

Corresponding parts are designated by like characters of reference in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l designates a supporting-bracket, preferably in the form of a flat block of wood, carrying a vertical rod 2. This rod is supported at its opposite ends in suitable eyes 3, provided at the top and bottom ends, respectively, of the bracket. As indicated in Fig. 2, a longi- 45 tudinal slot 4 is provided at each of the respective upper and lower ends of the bracket, and these slots are adapted to receive the heads of suitable L-shaped screw-fastenings 5, which are provided in the walt or other 5o placeY to which the device maybe attached.

The upper fastening is shown with its head turned in alinement with the slot, whereby the bracket may be positioned thereon or removed therefrom, while the lower fastening is indicated as being turned -transversely of 5 5 the slot, whereby the head engages across the face of the bracket to hold it firmly against the Wall.

The hanger-arms 6 are preferably formed from a dat strip of wood, and they decrease 6o in length regularly frornthe lower arm to the upper arm, which is thel shortest. In all other respects the arms are identical in construction and mounting, and therefore a description of one of them will be sufficient. Each arm preferably tapers from its inner endoutward, and its inner end 7 is squared off at right angles tothe upper face thereof. The connection between the arms and the bracket is shown in Fig. 4, and comprises a 7o sleeve S, having opposite parallel wings or ears 9, between which the inner end of the arm is pivoted by means of a suitable pin 10. The outer face li of the sleeve S between the wings 9 is preferably flat, as shown in 75 Fig. e, and the arm is pivoted above its longitudinal axis, whereby its inner squared end 7 abuts against the iiat surface 1l when an article is hung upon the arm, and the latter is thereby held rigidly in ahorizontal position. 8o

The 'sleeve 8 .is fitted loosely upon the rod 2 before the latter has been connected to the bracket, and each arm is therefore vertically slidably mounted upon the rod and at the same time is capable of being swung laterally 8 5 thereon. It will now be understood how each arm Y may be adjusted independently of the Others and that when an article is hung upon an arm the weight will bind the sleeve upon the rod 9o and hold the arm at its adjusted position. To move the same either up or down, it is simply necessary to press upwardly upon the arm, so as to reduce the binding action ofthesleeve upon the rod, when the arm may be adjusted as desired, and as soon as the np- Ward pressure is removed the sleeve will instantly'bind upon the rod and holdy the arm in its position. Each arm may be swung laterally to either side without affecting the ver-v rco tical position of the individual arm or ol' any of the other arms. y

In folding the arms of the device when not in use it is preferable to begin with the lowest and longest arm, which is swung upward upon its pivot-pin 10 and then turned axially to one side back against the bracket until its upper end is confined within an approximately U -shaped spring-clip l2, and the other arms are then successively folded and turned alternately in opposite directions until they are all confined by the spring-clip, as indicated in Fig. 3. It is preferable to fold the arms as described, for they can be disposed more compactly and the upper and shortest arm may be brought into use and is free to be adjusted up or down upon the rod. It' folded in any other manner, the upper arm would be covered and could not be brought into use, while whichever other arm might be free to unfold yet it would be below the upper arm and therefore not capable of vertical adjustnient.

The spring-clip 12 may be attached in any desired manner, but preferably by placing its base between the upper eye 3 and the bracket, the fastenings for the eye also serving to secure the spring-clip. By this disposition of the spring-clip the longest arm is of about the same length as the rod 2, whereby an exceedingly compact device is provided. The eyes supporting the upper and lower ends of the rod 2 Space the latter away from the bracket l, so as to permit of the arms being easily adjusted and folded, and they also serve as stops t prevent longitudinal displacement in either direction of the hanger-arms.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit o1' sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isl. A clothes-rack,comprising a supportingrod, a spring-clip located at one end of the rod, and a plurality of hanger-arms mounted upon the rod and having a longitudinal adjustment, a lateral-swinging movement, and capable of being folded longitudinally upon the supporting-rod, whereby the han ger-arms are adapted to be moved to one end of the rod opposite the spring-clip, folded longitudinally upon the rod, and turned alternately in opposite directions into engagement with the spring-clip, whereby the arms are held in their folded position, substantially as shown and described. t

2. In a clothes-rack, the combination with a bracket having a pair of eyes, a rod supported by the eyes, and a spring-clip at one end of the rod, of a plurality of sleeves slidably mounted and capable of being turned upon the rod, and each having a pair of opposite wings, and a plurality of hanger-arms each hinged between the wings of its respective sleeve, whereby said arms may be independentlyadjusted and folded longitudinally, and turned axially upon the rod into engagement with the spring-clip, whereby the arms are held in their folded position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JNO. HERBERT OLOUGH.

Witnesses:

J. WALTER OLoUGH, JAMES F. PoTTs. 

